O'Connell: Lions eager to prove themselves
O'Connell is desperate to register a win for the Lions against the Springboks
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Wednesday, 01, Jul 2009 10:24
British and Irish Lions captain Paul O'Connell says his side are eager to prove themselves in the final Test against South Africa this Saturday.
The Lions suffered close defeats in the first two Tests, culminating in Morne Steyn's last-minute penalty in Pretoria that handed the Springboks the series.
O'Connell says the Lions are determined to go out on a winning note having come so close in Durban and Pretoria.
He said: "I think guys are just looking forward to the game at the weekend and just finishing on a high.
"We came here to win and you play to win - you don't come for big performances where you lose you come to win and it is disappointing."
The Lions have now lost their last seven Tests – a record run – and have not won since they beat Australia in the first Test of the 2001 tour.
O'Connell says the history of the Lions jersey means a lot to the current players and that they want to live up to the teams of the past by registering a victory in the final Test against the Springboks.
"I think we will be eager to prove ourselves," added the Munster man.
"I don't think the last two weekend's results are a true reflection of where we are so I think we will be motivated to show ourselves.
"We want to win in a Lions jersey - there is massive respect for what the Lions is amongst the squad and you do feel that all the time."
The Lions will have to field a much-changed side for the game in Johannesburg with Brian O'Driscoll, Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins all ruled out through injury.